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Independence Day Celebration in Monument
West. On the Fourth of July, The Monument Hill Kiwanis’ Biggest Small-Town Parade
in America entertained nearly 20,000 spectators along the streets of Monument
with 89 parade entrants. The 2024 parade’s theme was Our Nation’s Founders and
the Constitution with Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross among others as grand marshals.
The parade’s VIPs were Kiwanis President Scott Ross, Monument Chief of Police
Patrick Regan, and Monument Fire District Fire Chief Andy Kovacs. The parade
route was expanded to incorporate Santa Fe Avenue and Jefferson Street, allowing
increased spectator viewing options. Photo by David Futey. See additional
independence day photos in the Snapshots section. Inset: Children make their way
in the Fourth of July Children’s Parade.
Click here to view all articles in full
Monument Town Council, July 31 – Special Town Council Meeting Results in Town Manager’s Dismissal
By Chris Jeub This report covers the special Town Council meeting on July 31st, 2024, which was not included in the print edition due to time constraints. The Town of Monument held a special Town Council meeting on July 31st, 2024. The council conducted three executive sessions: one to determine positions relative to negotiations, another…
Monument Town Council, July 2 and 15 – Moratorium lifted; accountability discussed in response to town manager on administrative leave
By Chris Jeub The Monument Town Council gathered July 2 and 15 for their regular meetings, one of which lifted the town’s development moratorium. One special meeting held July 9 discussed Town Manager Mike Foreman’s paid administrative leave, but the reason for the leave has not yet been disclosed. Moratorium Lifted The Town Council voted…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, July 24 – Board confirms plans to eradicate prairie dogs
By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board held a special meeting on July 18 to fill a vacancy and held its regular meeting on July 24 to discuss prairie dog eradication and hear director reports. Treasurer vacancy filled At a special meeting, the WIA board met with Pete Giusti, a candidate to fill…
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, July 1, 6, 11 and 17 – Allegations prompt investigation
By Natalie Barszcz The Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) Board of Directors held an emergency executive session on July 1 to receive advice from legal counsel Linda Glesne of Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland P.C. (CEGR) Law relating to complaints received against Fire Chief PJ Langmaid, who was placed on administrative leave.…
Monument Planning Commission, July 10 – Orientation workshop for new members
By Lisa Hatfield The Monument Planning Commission held a new-member orientation workshop, instead of a formal meeting, on July 10. It was open to the public, but no action items were discussed, deliberated, or acted upon during this session. ********** The Monument Planning Commission usually meets the second Wednesday of each month. To see the…
Continue Reading Monument Planning Commission, July 10 – Orientation workshop for new members
Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) – County park planning manager discusses new parks
By Marlene Brown NEPCO, an association of homeowner associations, held its bi-monthly meeting July 13 at the Woodmoor Barn. With over 50 member associations in the Tri-Lakes and Black Forest, NEPCO represents over 22,000 voters. It works to inform residents of Land Use and Transportation issues as well as keeping up with the new laws…
Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, July 24 – Final merger timeline announced; dissolution plan approved
By Natalie Barszcz At the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) meeting on July 24, the board received the final timeline for the completion of the merger process with Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD), adopted a supplemental plan of dissolution, and approved the dissolution of the district. Secretary Mike Forsythe…
Monument Fire District, July 24 – Gas odor increases call volume; district recognized for supporting prescribed burn
By Natalie Barszcz At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on July 24, the board heard about an unprecedented temporary call volume increase, witnessed district recognition for its support, approved the Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan (VFPP) Affiliation Agreement, a part of the merger process,…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees Workshop, July 10 – Advisory committee presents Elephant Rock analysis
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans On July 10, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees held a workshop at which the Elephant Rock Property Citizen Advisory Committee presented the results of its work to organize and analyze the suggestions from residents for development of the 28-acre property. Mayor Glant Havenar and Trustees Shana Ball, Kevin…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, July 11 and 25 – Elephant Rock discussion becomes contentious
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The future of the Elephant Rock property was the focus of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) at its board meetings in July. The board also held two workshops devoted to the question. For coverage of the first workshop, held on July 10, see article on page <…
Monument Academy School Board, July 11 – Board resolution related to Title IX
By Jackie Burhans Monument Academy (MA) held its regular meeting in July to consider its response to changes in Title IX, to receive an update on finances, set board committee assignments, and hear committee reports. Board responds to Title IX changes The July 11 meeting started with a short executive session for legal advice regarding…
Continue Reading Monument Academy School Board, July 11 – Board resolution related to Title IX
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 15 – Contract for pipeline construction awarded
By James Howald The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met in July to consider awarding a contract for the construction of a pipeline to connect the district’s newest well to the Central Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). General Manager Jessie Shaffer gave the board a mid-year update on the district’s 2024 budget. The board…
Forest Lakes Metropolitan District/Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 2 and 3, July 15 and Pinon Pines Metropolitan District 1, July 22 – 2023 audits receive clean opinions
By Natalie Barszcz The Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) Pinon Pines Metropolitan District (PPMD) 2 and 3 boards held a joint special meeting on July 15 at 4 p.m. to conduct public hearings and accept the 2023 audits for FLMD and PPMD’s 2 and 3. On July 22, the PPMD 1 board held a special…
Monument Sanitation District, July 17 – Repair completed without blocking traffic
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald The Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board met in July to hear a report from District Manager Mark Parker and to discuss final edits to the district’s newsletter, The Pipeline. No spot repair needed Parker told the board that repairs to the pipeline running under Highway 105 were complete, and…
Continue Reading Monument Sanitation District, July 17 – Repair completed without blocking traffic
Triview Metropolitan District, July 18 – Northern Delivery System complete; land annexation approved
By Natalie Barszcz At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on July 18, the board heard about the Northern Delivery System (NDS) pipeline project completion and the anticipated delivery date of water to the residents, approved a land annexation to the Town of Buena Vista, received an update on the Higby Road pipeline installation, and…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, July 18 – Board considers request to exclude property
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The July meeting of the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board was preceded by a workshop and tour of the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF), which the district operates jointly with the Academy Water and Sanitation District, the Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, and the Triview…
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, July 18 – Board considers new roles for Merrick and Co.
By James Howald The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA or the Loop) board met in July to hear to hear suggestions for next steps from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co., who also serves as the Loop’s project planning and workflow manager, and to consider a new contract…
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, July 9 and 25 – Black Forest property to be divided into two lots
By Helen Walklett During July, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to create two lots on a 6.02-acre Black Forest property and approved requests connected to renovation work at Fox Run Regional Park and the Fox Run Nature Center. Vessey Road rezone At the July 25 BOCC land use meeting,…
July Weather Wrap
Above: Smoke reportedly from Canadian wildfires casts a gray haze across the region on July 22, obscuring details of Mount Herman and the Rampart Range as seen from the Jackson Creek area. Photo by Allen Alchian. Editors note: Bill Kappel is unavailable this month so we do not have a weather column, but Bill will…
Letters to Our Community – Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech A social media troll shares unwelcome content within an online conversation to purposefully instigate an argument with one or more people. It is dangerous to young and old alike, and we see it every day. It is not always protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech, as some would have you…
Continue Reading Letters to Our Community – Freedom of speech
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – New fiction titles to round out your summer
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside are cool and crisp to the touch.”— Jane Smiley These new fiction books are a wonderful way to round out the summer, whether outside basking in the…
August Library Events – Free concerts, book clubs
By Harriet Halbig As summer winds down, enjoy a series of free concerts on the Village Green in Palmer Lake (right next to the library). These concerts, from 6 to 7 p.m., are free and family friendly. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for your comfort. In the event of rain, concerts will be…
Continue Reading August Library Events – Free concerts, book clubs
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Back to Eden gardening and what to plant in August
By Janet Sellers Our wood chips that come from local fire mitigation have a number of benefits. The official monikers for chunky wood mulch uses are “Back to Eden” and “permaculture” and use the many sizes of chips, which is key. Many people buy wood chips that are of a uniform size with mediocre benefits,…
Art Matters – On the superpowers of art and daydreaming
By Janet Sellers Our local arts scene has a lot to offer us for fun, health, and well-being—and we can take the benefits with us when we buy some art for ourselves or gifts. We have had our Chautauqua arts and culture events in Palmer Lake through Aug. 4. Our monthly Art Hop (5 to…
Continue Reading Art Matters – On the superpowers of art and daydreaming
Snapshots of Our Community
Alta ribbon-cutting, June 26 Above: The Alta 25 apartment complex at 1320 Herman View Way in Monument opened its doors with a ribbon cutting on June 26. The complex features one, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in three-story garden-style buildings. Photo by Charlie Searle. Concert in the Park, June 26 Above: Mimic, a classic rock cover…
Our Community Notices
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated. Fox Run Regional Park…
Our Community Calendar
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions. GOVERNMENTAL BODIES Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines…